Just days before A-10s took their fini flight at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona Congressman Abe Hamadeh introduced the bipartisan Bolstering Recognition, Resurgence, Retention, and Remembrance of the Thunderbolt (BRRRRT) Act, legislation aimed at preserving the A-10 Thunderbolt II mission.
Hamadeh’s legislation aims to ensure that U.S. warriors who serve on the front lines have the most lethal close air support until a certified replacement is operational.
The BRRRRT Act, named after the “Brrrrrrrrt,” sound the aircraft makes when striking enemy forces while providing close air support (CAS), requires the U.S. Air Force to maintain the aircraft through Fiscal Year 2033.
RELATED ARTICLE:
A-10: The most terrifying yet beautiful sound I have ever heard
According to Hamadeh, the A-10 Thunderbolt II has served as the backbone of the U.S. Air Force’s close air support mission for more than four decades, earning a reputation as a trusted platform for protecting American troops on the battlefield.
In April 2026, at the request of President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of the Air Force announced that the Air Force will keep the A-10 Thunderbolt II flying through 2030.
According to the military, the Air Force “plans to extend two squadrons of A-10s to 2030, one active-duty squadron at Moody AFB and one reserve squadron at Whiteman AFB.”
While the Air Force has committed to maintaining the aircraft through Fiscal Year 2030, current plans risk reducing critical training and maintenance capacity before a certified replacement capability is available.
On July 29, Airmen and local civic leaders gathered at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to witness the aircraft’s final flight, marking the end of nearly five decades of A-10 operations at the installation.
The flight served as both a celebration and a farewell, honoring an aircraft that became synonymous with the 355th Wing and its close air support mission.
“The reason the A-10 flies, and the reason why our enemies are afraid of that, is because of the level of support every single Airman in all career fields gives to make sure that platform departs and comes back safely,” Anderson said.
For nearly five decades, the A-10 has provided support to ground forces in some of the most austere operational environments in the world.
“We’ve always had A-10s on the ramp; for the last 50 years they’ve been on the ramp,” said Lt. Col. Rodney Dwyer, 355th Operations Group commander. “To see the sunshades get torn down, to see the jets divest, fewer and fewer A-10s out there … it’s definitely bittersweet.”
The Warthog’s mission at Davis-Monthan had ended. Still, the legacy created by the Airmen who flew, maintained and supported the aircraft will remain woven into the history of the base and the Tucson community for generations to come, say supporters.
“I got out of the aircraft and went over to him [Dwyer] and told him, ‘I don’t want to do this, man. I don’t want to,'” Lt. Col. Ryan Rutter, 357th Fighter Squadron commander, said. “It’s tough, and I think a lot of it is you’ve just spent years being part of this team and flying this aircraft all over the world and building friends and relationships in the community. So, when you shut down the jet for the last time, it’s that realization that some of that will change, some of that will go away.”
“The A-10 has repeatedly proven itself on the battlefield, saving American lives and delivering unmatched close air support when our troops need it most,” said Congressman Hamadeh. “The BRRRRT Act ensures we do not retire a proven weapons system before a certified replacement exists. This is about common sense, national security, and keeping faith with the men and women who depend on the A-10 in combat.”
Be the first to comment